Despite a very public apology, outspoken advocate Isaac Ssemakadde has asked the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to take punitive measures against Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo over his recent controversial ethnic remarks about the Kabaka of Buganda.
Owiny-Dollo later wrote an apology to the Kabaka for his remarks and even went to Bulange where he met the katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga to bury the hatchet.
However, Ssemakadde, the CEO, Legal Brains Trust, a Kampala-based democracy and human rights watchdog, continues to pursue the matter and wants the chief justice to step aside and be investigated for breaking the Uganda code of judicial conduct.
JSC confirmed receipt of the petition on April 4.
“The complaint is that while at the vigil of the late speaker Jacob Oulanyah on March 22, the chief justice made intemperate, hate-filled and ethnically divisive remarks demonstrably prejudicial to Buganda, Baganda and the Kabaka of Buganda, as well as the promoters of the demonstrations in Seattle, Washington, USA over the government’s decision to fly the late Speaker for treatment there at great expense in early February 2022, and future promoters of the right to protest,” reads part of the letter.
“Owiny-Dollo was caught in a widely broadcast and viral diatribe, spewing a blatant lie motivated by a personal grievance and/or personal antagonism with respect to what he unjustifiably framed as inter-ethnic hatred by the people of Buganda (Baganda) against the people of Acholi. He also made political statements (including sabre-rattling), breaking the Uganda Code of Judicial Conduct.”
Ssemakadde further claims that Owiny-Dollo violated a bundle of constitutional freedoms and compromised the office of the chief justice in the conduct of cases related to freedom of assembly, freedom of association, and freedom of speech, as well as good governance.
“The words complained of also constitute criminal conduct under Section 41 of the Penal Code Act.”
Whereas the chief justice has reportedly offered an apology to the Kabaka and atoned for the personal injury caused by the libel spewed, his lordship has remained belligerent to the other subjects of his vitriol,” the petition further reads.
“Objectively viewed, this situation presents legitimate cause for the removal of the impugned judicial officer in terms of Articles 144(2)(b) and 144(4) of the Constitution. A clear and strong message needs to be sent that the Judiciary of Uganda has a policy of zero tolerance for ethnic hatred, and that the chief justice is not above the law.”
Ssemakadde has, therefore, requested that JSC investigates the conduct of the chief justice and take appropriate action to preserve and protect the integrity not only of the office of chief justice but also the judiciary as a whole.
“We further request that, in the meantime, the chief justice be directed and/or prevailed upon to step aside, in the interest of protecting the Judicial Branch from further opprobrium during the sought-after investigation.”
The JSC had not responded to him by press time.